Ostomypower
There are some "rules" regarding diet and food portion control with an illeostomy (perhaps a colostomy too) that if ignored can cause significant issues including what your describing.
1: Don't swallow anything hard or that you can't chew into a paste it can cause a clog or blockage that may require a hospital visit. In fact if it's a paste or liquid before it enters your mouth that's even better as we all miss chewing stuff thoroughly. Some foods will turn into near liquid when digested by stomach acid, these one can get by as long as it's chewed well. Some foods will not because their skins or fibrous texture will not digest. Like onions, leafy greens and spinach.
2: Food portion control. Small less than 6 oz in total nutritious meals more often spaced out over 24 hours is the best method. I usually have something to eat every four hours, even in the middle of the night. If one eats too much (like pasta) and falls asleep they could wake up to a mess.
3: Train oneself to sleep only on their back. This is easy to do by placing a pillow under each arm for a few nights and one becomes trained to do it all the time and actually like it. This of course reduces the chances of dislodging the wafer and causing blowouts and leaks. The weight of the bag will become automatic to get up and take a dump.
4: Certain foods and drinks can cause many issues with an illeostomy, namely runaway diarrhea (if this occurs then stop eating or drinking anything, even water, it will stop) which will cause dehydration issues so you need to be careful. Some foods will dry up stool and come out very thick and even force the wafer off the skin. Crackers, cakes, cookies, bananas and yams are famous for this. To remedy requires dumping and rinsing out the bag and massaging the pancaked area with water until it's loose and flowing again. Can be avoided once one learns about what causes what and keeps a record. Again a lot of issues come down to portion control, like if I drink more than two cups of low-fat milk I have issues. Or more than a few swallows of orange or apple juice at a time. Etc. No alcohol in any amounts. Oatmeal is fine for me provided I don't eat a lot of it at once.
I have guide here of my diet and what the experts say what can cause what with an illeostomy
viewtopic.php?t=27735
viewtopic.php?t=27738
Or you can see an ostomy dietician to tell you the same things, and watch your B12 vitamin levels especially if your feeling nerve pain (neuropathy).
I eat usually nothing more than TV dinners now, staying away from the deep fried stuff (diarrhea city) and veggies that will clog (juice, soup or sauce only). I'll have small bowl of rice type cereal with low fat milk (fat causes diarrhea) with a few swallows of orange juice in the mornings. In the middle of the night I'll nibble a bit on a uncooked pop tart and drink some water to get back to sleep.
Less food (and diarrhea causing drinks like alcohol) as it's getting closer to bedtime and bigger nutritious meals before 3 pm usually is my routine as to have little or no bag issues during the night.
If you have any more issues just ask.
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